Tether goes HTML5 on iPhone

Tether has relaunched its mobile app, which "allows simple and affordable internet connection through smartphones", once again making it available to iPhone users. The app was originally released for BlackBerry in 2009 and later made its way over to the iPhone in the form of iTether. However, the app was removed from the App Store only 20 hours after it launched. "It was clear […] there was enormous demand within the iPhone ecosystem," said Tim Burke, CEO of Tether. "It was unfortunate that Apple decided to remove our application […]. However, this caused us to innovate. Our underlying patent-pending technology behind Tether for iPhone is unlike anything on the market."

According to Tether, the new app is based on HTML5 and creates a wireless connection over AdHoc. The company says this circumvents the need to buy the application directly from the App Store and therefore enables any iPhone or iPad with a data connection to allow tethering.

This of course isn't the first time developers have decided to get around Apple's restrictions and subsequently found a solution in HTML5. We've previously reported on Grooveshark and the FT both doing the same, and Sencha recently upgraded its tools to make it simpler for devs to create app-like HTML5 experiences. However, while it's clear apps with a popular USP (such as Tether) or very loyal core audience (like the FT) will flock to HTML5, only time will tell if this happens in a more general sense.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq.